ABC/Post poll shows independents will not vote for Clinton/Romney

Found Here

Hotline OnCall ran a post today about a new ABC/Post poll among independent voters and who they would not vote for. Here are the results:

Among independents -- Definitely would NOT support
Romney: 53%
Clinton: 51
McCain: 41
Edwards: 39
Giuliani: 35
Obama: 29

The results suggest that independent voters are still looking for someone who is currently not in the race. Someone like Newt Gingrich perhaps.

Newt virtually even with current big three in SC Poll

Found here

(4/11/07) An InsiderAdvantage/ Majority Opinion poll conducted among 500 likely South Carolina voters showed four potential candidates - New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - all tied within the poll’s statistical margin of error, with former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson not far behind the pack. The poll was conducted April 9-10.

Q. Of the following potential candidates, if the presidential primary were held today, would you vote for?

Giuliani: 18%
McCain: 17%
Gingrich: 16%
Romney: 14%
(Fred) Thompson: 9%
Gilmore: 4%
Huckabee: 3%
Brownback: 2%
Hunter: 1%
Paul: 1%
Undecided/ Don’t know: 15%

An Important Message from Newt Gingrich

Spanish

English

Two Interviews

Angelo from 2008Central.net interviewed Draft Newt's campaign manager Steve Parkhurst.

The article w/ audio can be found on 2008Central.net's site here

We'd like to thank the folks at 2008Central.net for the interview and hope to hear from them again in the future.

Matt Lewis of Townhall.com Interviewed Matt Keller about the Draft Newt movement.

You can see his interview here

Update: You can also catch Matt Lewis' Column about Newt on Politico.com here

Newt's plan for Iran + Video

Newt Gingrich clarified his ideas on how Britain should handle the hostage situation involving 15 U.K. sailors illegally taken as an act of war by Iran.

AirCongress has the story + Video here

Stay tuned folks I'm sure our U.K. Correspondant Tim Aker will have some insight in his upcoming column.

Update: Here's the video

Newt On Righttalk.com today at 2pm EST

Today on Leading the Majority

Rightalk.com
March 30, 2007
2-3 PM Eastern Time

Click Here to Listen

Bearing Drift's interview with Newt Gingrich during VCAP

Bearing Drift's Brian Kirwin, one of the primary bloggers covering the VCAP fundraiser with Newt Gingrich, was able to get an audio interview with the former Speaker.

You can find their commentary along with the audio on Bearing Drift's website.

Newt's on Hannity and Colmes Tonight!

Fox News Network
March 29, 2007
9-10pm Eastern Time

Newt, Sean and Alan will discuss the latest news.

Newt Gingrich Draws Crowd and Funds for VCAP

Newt Gingrich drew 150 generous contributors in a fundraiser for the Virginia Conservative Action PAC Wednesday evening. For more information visit VPAC's official site here.

Newt Gingrich on the Importance of Modernizing Healthcare

In an editorial at American.com, Newt Gingrich outlined how the Medical industry is still living an "analog" lifestyle in a "digital" age.

Healthcare is the final major indus­try still clinging to the past. When was the last time you took out a pen, wrote out a check to cash, and then handed it to a bank teller? Online banking, debit cards, and a worldwide, interconnected ATM network wiped away the old paradigm. When was the last time you called every airline to check your flight options, and then had a ticket with multi­ple copies for each leg of your trip delivered to your mailbox? Expedia, Travelocity, and other websites have put consumers squarely in the driver’s seat.

Hugh Hewitt Interviews Newt Gingrich

Hugh Hewitt interviewed Newt Gingrich today on his show.

The transcript can be found here

The audio can be found here

Hugh's commentary regarding the interview is here

The former Speaker was my guest today for a conversation on a number of topics, including his provocative Human Events column from 3/12. We also talk Great Britain and Iran, the Federal Marriage Amendment, Terri Schiavo, the "assault weapons" ban, immigration and global warming.

Mr. Gingrich also agreed to return next week for an hour long conversation I would moderate about the issues facing America with either Mayor Giuliani or Governor Romney as his conversation partner if either (or both) of them agrees. I hope one or both will make the time as it is the sort of extended conversation about issues that would do much to raise the bar for the debates of '07 and '08. We will be getting the invitations out to both of those men asap. (The invite is there for Senators McCain and Thompson as well, but Mayor Giuliani and Governor Romney have thus far been willing to come onto my program for long form conversations.)

Newt Gingrich comments on Security matters

In an interview with Family Security Foundation, Newt Gingrich talks about Iran, Israel and importance of the Middle East region.

The US should have as an explicit goal, regime change in Iran, as its constitution makes them a revolutionary regime. In 2006 even the Department of State which seeks to deny the nature of reality, noted that Iran is a leading sponsor of terror. What I need is something that will be similar to Reagan’s Replacement strategy in Iran. The current unrest in Iran will facilitate this.

Corn & Miniter: Newt rising to 2nd in Pajamas Media Straw Poll

Perhaps one of the largest concurrent Straw Polls out there, the one done by Pajamas Media, has Newt Gingrich at 2nd place as of last week (week 9).

David Corn and Richard Miniter discuss these latest poll results and other Presidential hopefuls in the latest installment of their new show.

Breakdown by week of Newt's standing in the Pajamas Media Straw Poll:

Week 1: 3rd, 2411 votes
Week 2: 3rd, 1607 votes
Week 3: 4th, 922 votes
Week 4: 4th, 734 votes
Week 5: 2nd, 815 votes
Week 6: 2nd, 854 votes
Week 7: 2nd, 693 votes
Week 8: 3rd, 772 votes
Week 9: 2nd, 701 votes
Week 10 (ongoing): 2nd, 165 votes

There is still plenty of time left to vote in Week 10, so get over to PJM and place those votes!

Newt's latest Human Events Column

Found Here

When I travel around the country speaking to groups of Americans, I often tell the story of a couple arrested last year in Great Britain. They were arrested on the suspicion that they were going to use their eight-month-old baby to smuggle a bomb onto an airplane. They were apparently going to disguise the bomb as baby food. And they were perfectly happy to kill their baby just as long as they killed some Americans in the process.

There is a word for people like this. The word is evil.

Newt's on The Charlie Rose Show Tonight!

Newt's on The Charlie Rose Show Tonight!
PBS
March 26, 2007
Check your local listings

UPDATE: Correction, the Charlie Rose appearance has been bumped to tomorrow

Newt's on the O'Reilly Factor Tonight!

Newt's on the O'Reilly Factor Tonight!

Fox News Network
March 26, 2007
8-9 PM Eastern Time

2nd wave candidates coming to light?

A recent Washington Post op-ed discusses the possibilities of new candidates entering the race this fall.

The first would have started, oh, several eons ago and will wrap up sometime this summer, when we tire of the first round of leading candidates and send them limping to their locker rooms. Then, as Newt Gingrich and Fred Thompson and who knows how many others imagine it, fresh teams will suit up and run onto the field.

A Plethora of Newt goodies from Victory New Hampshire

Victory New Hampshire, an organization designed to help protect our primary system, recently engaged in several interviews with Newt Gingrich and co-authored an op-ed with Ed Feulner as well. Links to the interviews and op-ed are below (Hat Tip goes to Harry Levine, co-founder of Victory NH for providing the links)

Victory NH Interview Pt. 1
Victory NH Interview Pt. 2
Newt Gingrich on NH's Primary (Audio!)
Op-Ed piece with Newt Gingrich and Ed Feulner

Hillary Attack ad and others like it are "destructive", so sayeth Newt

At a speaking event for the Independent Womens Forum, Newt Gingrich touches on the consultant culture that has pervaded political way of life and the dangers it poses to real change.

Update: David All has further commentary here.

American Spectator's "Newt Morning"

Phillip Klein just wrote an excellent article detailing the anticipation behind a Newt Gingrich primary candidacy. Here is an excerpt:

Despite the obstacles facing his potential candidacy, the Republican Party would no doubt be better off with Gingrich in the race. With his poll numbers still in the double digits, rival candidates will have to be deferential to him in hopes of winning over his supporters should he not ultimately capture the nomination. That means that if Gingrich runs a campaign based on promoting serious dialogue, and intellectually engages his opponents during the debates, the rest of the candidates will be forced to follow his example.

Gingrich's view on early presidential campaigns being shared?

Are other people sharing Newt Gingrich's view that running this early is absurd? James Kotecki of CHBN.com has a unique and humorous take on the scope and future negativity of this already way too early race for 08'.

James also has a video addressed directly to Newt Gingrich available here.

Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page: "Oh, yeah, Newt's running."

The Chicago Tribune's own Clarence Page had an exciting article about Newt Gingrich today. He is a syndicated Columnist and can be found in today's Detroit News Online.

So, if I were Newt right now I'd be thinking: Why not me? If Rudy Giuliani implodes as more conservatives find out about his past support for gay rights, abortion rights and gun control, Newt looks increasingly like Luke Skywalker against the encroaching liberal Empire.

Gingrich to Speak at University of Mary Washington Commencement

Gingrich to speak at Univ. of Mary Washington

President William Frawley said the board of visitors, senior UMW officials and others collectively decided to invite Gingrich to the May 12 ceremony.

Gingrich to speak at Vanderbilt University

Newt Gingrich to speak at Vandy

Gingrich will speak Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m

Newt on Hannity and Colmes tonight March 13th 9pm.

Newt Gingrich will be on Hannity and Colmes tonight at 9pm EST.

The Failures of Government: Hurricane Katrina

How can you have the mess we have in New Orleans, and not have had deep investigations of the federal government, the state government, the city government, and the failure of citizenship in the Ninth Ward, where 22,000 people were so uneducated and so unprepared, they literally couldn't get out of the way of a hurricane. -Newt Gingrich CPAC 2007

Spin is an amazing tool. It can be used to defame, discredit and slander. It is an ingenious tool of twisting words, separating the context of the person who speaks the words with the words themselves. It separates the contextual foresight into why the words are said, the tone in which they are said and the audience to which they are said. Let the music industry rue the day a spin master decides to apply spin to rap music lyrics and accuse it of being racist.

Let us restore the elements that spin have taken away from Newt Gingrich’s remarks. Let us restore what was actually said, for what was actually said is quite important. Those who would truly care about the Hurricane Katrina debacle, who would truly care about the memory of those who died crying out for help, would be well to listen. They would be well advised to stop the spin and actually do something to help the people affected by Katrina; to work with Speaker Gingrich instead of berate him as a bigot, as a person that does not represent him in any way, shape or form.

The first half of Newt Gingrich’s comment; while not spun as much as the latter half, places everything in context. Has our society become so secularized that we ignore the following Biblical proverb and its teachings?

“Give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”

Herein lay the failure of Federal, State and Local governments. All three failed to teach the citizens of the affected areas of Katrina, how to escape, how to prepare, and how to survive in case of a catastrophic hurricane. They all failed on a massive level. It is because the government failed that citizenship failed. However it’s important to take the context of HOW the government failed. It failed in not rescuing the Katrina victims but it also failed in being required to do so. All three governments never taught the Katrina victims to fish. This is the context of Newt Gingrich’s comments.

Newt Gingrich is far from a bigot. He is a human being with much compassion. This compassion takes place in frustration at the misrepresentation of charity; the charity in which the government is involved. Much of this compassion is the result of his life. He was adopted by a father who took care of him but also taught him to take care of himself. It is this value of compassion that Speaker Gingrich embodies by his comments and his frustration. Spinsters who claim to be the true champions of the people damaged by Katrina would make him out as someone who calls the victims “stupid.” There is a distinct difference between stupid and uneducated, and the Speaker knows it. The question is, do the people who attack him know it? After all they are the ones who refuse to teach the people to fish. There must be a reason in their minds why.

This was why investigations into the way we run government were brought up in his speech. Speaker Gingrich brought to light the point that all three layers of government refuse to teach the people to fish. The civic duty of citizenship requires that we make these demands of our government and if we don’t, we have the failure of citizenship. Not because the people were of dark skin, not because they were poor, not even because they were uneducated. Because our society has let them become uneducated. We have let our government fail and with it the failure of citizenship. We have let the entire process become a vicious circle, a vicious circle which Speaker Gingrich wants to stop. And it is this point the spinsters seek to squelch. Speaker Gingrich will not be squelched. We who support him will not be squelched. The people of New Orleans deserve better. Our entire country deserves better. It is in the name of those who perished we will speak out until real change happens, because real change requires real change and without real change more Americans will needlessly perish.

-Matthew Brian Keller

Falwell Expects a Gingrich Bid Announcement

Via a Press Release concerning Newt Gingrich speaking at Liberty University's commencement this year; Jerry Falwell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

"In my opinion, he will announce for the presidency sometime this year."

Walter Reed: Of Problems and Patriots

For generations men and women have given their lives, their limbs and their souls to the defense of not just a nation but an idea. They give these sacrifices to the idea that humanity by the grace of God deserves to be free; free of fear, free of oppression and full of hope. It is hope that drives the character of our nation and our children to live in freedom and peace. Our soldiers willingly give up that peace to go to war when called. They heed that call knowing the weight such a duty of killing brings to their spirit. They heed that call knowing that changed they will ever be upon entering conflict in service to our nation. They heed that call knowing full well that they may well never return except into the earth in which they came; their shroud the flag of the country which they loved deeply. It is in the spirit of this love we owe them so much.

Our love for our soldiers does not start and end at their Ultimate Sacrifice. There are many who give not their lives but leave something just as valuable on the battlefield. Arlington may be a standing tribute to those who have fallen, but where is the monument to those who are broken in body and mind? That tribute in part lay with taking care of those who come back to us in the name of freedom but are not the same as when they left.

The problems at Walter Reed are just that, problems. They are a great challenge to the covenant our government enacts with our wounded. However while the buck stopped at Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman with his removal, the men and women of our Armed Services deserve more. They deserve solutions. A surgeon can place tourniquets and sutures to a wound, or even be replaced but if his technique is wrong the healing cannot truly begin. The healing our troops deserve lay not in proper care but in the proper approach to care.

Walter Reed while not part of the VA system, in part suffers the same problems of the VA system. It is a bloated government bureaucracy. Bureaucracy fails when there is lack of competition. Our wounded have no choice but to be sent to Walter Reed in which their care is provided. However one facility and the few others like it cannot possibly handle our wounded in the current state of war in which we live.

The failures of Walter Reed like that of Hurricane Katrina are from institutional failures as well as individual ones. Individual failure is the effect; institutional failure the cause. To prevent future failure we must change the institution not to more bureaucracy but from it. There is one man who can enact this change. He can enact this change because he knows deeply the importance of proper care. That man is Newt Gingrich. Newt Gingrich wishes to further the investment of Health Savings Accounts and create systems of competition for health care. He wishes to bring competitive markets to all Americans including our troops. These markets would stimulate competition in providing the best health care at the appropriate price.

The call we make to our soldiers should be echoed by the call we make to our politicians to take proper care of them. It is through the spirit of the free market in which our men and women fight for, that they should be rewarded by it.

- Matthew Brian Keller

Written in loving tribute and Memory to Matthew A. Webber who died serving his nation April 27th 2006.

Our Renewed Battlecry: "NEWT! NEWT! NEWT!"

Traveling to Washington D.C. is like paying respects to your Grandpa’s gravestone. He - along with the men behind those marbled steps and pillars of the monuments and buildings of government - are long gone from this world. Yet, their voices carry on the wind along with history. They whisper to you while you are there, and tell you stories of deeds before your reckoning. The whispers are filled with valor, pride and sacrifice. They are of glory and heartache.

It is in these whispers of D.C. that going to CPAC is a Wake. For thirty years the Conservative Political Action Conference has celebrated the naturally conservative history of our great nation and of our fore fathers. And what a celebration it is! CPAC is not just a gathering of conservatives, it is a living monument. We do not mourn the men and women who built this land of freedom; we gather and remember their spirit, their idealism and their romanticism. We continue the journey started with “We the People” and carry it onward; second star to the right and straight on till morning, with every passing generation.

Yet why do thousands descend upon the shining beacon of the free world every year? Why do the thousands, who represent and spread the grassroots effort in their local communities - many of which do so for little or no money - come here? Faith. It can be argued by few or by many that it is faith in this country, faith in the power of the people and faith in the powers endowed by the Creator that has caused our enduring perseverance against the forces of immorality, destruction and evil. It is in this faith that CPAC grows each year.

Since the birth of this nation, within the ink of a defiant quill, America has had a destiny. Our destiny is that of freedom, and with each realization of that destiny has come a grander understanding of it. With the expanse of our nation from sea to shining sea came the defeat of fascism. From the defeat of fascism came the defeat of communism. Today however we face a true two front campaign toward destiny and freedom. We face extremist ideology from without and within our own borders. One wishes death to freedom by means of religion while the other endangers freedom with extremist secularism and government control.

It is at CPAC that we channel our faith in freedom in defense of our country in light of these dangers. Many in recent months (and at CPAC) have uttered the words of Ronald Reagan and some have called this cliché. Yet, cliché at its basest definition is the result of the reoccurrence of truth. It was Ronald Reagan that stood fast toward destiny and so we look to his legacy for guidance. Reagan’s legacy however is not our only pillar. It was at the end of CPAC that we heard a renewed battle cry of freedom in the words “NEWT! NEWT! NEWT!”

It is through Newt Gingrich that many look for a new pillar of strength. It is through Newt Gingrich that many look for a rebirth of grassroots. They look to him because grassroots is the epitome of ideas and issues. Grassroots is not the core of negative campaigning to which it has been falsely accredited. Newt’s Nine Nineties in Nine program, will be a new revolution to movement conservatism, much like the Contract with America was a revolution to Republicanism. While the Media look to other candidates for sound bytes it is the grassroots movement that looks to Newt Gingrich for real American solutions. It is through a campaign of solutions and not problems that can revitalize those outside the grassroots to gain interest in the grassroots. It is the attitude of yes/if and not no/because that will drive the American spirit once more. The American people hunger for change. They long for it like sailors out to sea singing about dry land and Shenandoah. It is because Newt Gingrich’s hopes and dreams are our hopes and dreams that we love him so. He is us; he does not appear to us from behind a curtain but travels through the crowd, through our embrace. It is through this embrace we wish to elevate him to President of the United States. It is through this cause, this pure form of grassroots we hope you join us.

-Matthew Brian Keller

Some Newt Gingrich at CPAC footage

Footage taken by myself. My apologies for the shakyness. I had no tripod to mount my camera on and I had had 3 cups of coffee.

Gingrich, Steele Big Stars at CPAC

Newt Gingrich and Michael Steele emerged as the GOP stars at last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Steele was mobbed by supporters looking for pictures and autographs. Gingrich commented, "I got more bang for my buck than the other [2008 presidential hopefuls]," a smiling Mr. Gingrich told The Washington Times after he marched from the back of the Regency Ballroom at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, amid stirring music nearly drowned out by applause and cheers.(source)

Gingrich has yet to form an exploratory committee and did not purchase a table at CPAC for supporters, yet he polls high in straw polls, even beating out John McCain, who is considered the 2nd favorite right now behind Rudy Giuliani.

The former NYC governor has been winning over more and more conservatives as of late, but he has also avoided having to answer tough questions about his positions on gay marriage and abortion.

The Washington Times reports:
Mr. Gingrich was the only top-tier potential contender for the Republican nomination who hadn't formed a presidential exploratory committee or bought any CPAC banquet tables for supporters. Yet in the largest presidential preference straw poll in the conference's history, he placed fourth (14 percent) -- ahead of Arizona Sen. John McCain (12 percent), who rejected an invitation to address the event.

Mr. Giuliani made his decision to accept CPAC's speaking invitation four days before the conference, yet managed to place second (17 percent) in the straw poll behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (21 percent), who had invested heavily in pre-event organization.

Perhaps most importantly, the conference poll conducted by the Fabrizio-McLaughlin firm allowed attendees to indicate their second preferences. Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Giuliani each got 16 percent of the second-choice votes, so that when first- and second-place were combined, Mr. Giuliani was on top (at 33 percent), with Mr. Romney and Mr. Gingrich tied for second at 30 percent each.

Gingrich has done well with the conservative base by emphasizing individual freedom while stressing the incredible need to return to fiscally responsible government in Congress. He has also declared the need for a radical overhaul of government to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

"Newt showed he is the strongest spokesperson for today's conservatives," said Tom Edmonds, a veteran campaign strategist and chief executive officer of the Edmonds Hackney media-consulting firm.(source)

Gingrich still maintains that he will not announce a decision on possible candidacy for president until September 2007.

Cross posted at Newt Gingrich for President 2008http://gingrichforpres.blogspot.com

Save The GOP Interviewed Draft Newt at CPAC

Save The GOP's comments about Draft Newt>>

Mark and I were interviewed by SaveTheGOP.com shortly after they conducted their interview with Newt Gingrich himself. I'd like to thank Alexander for the interview, it was most enjoyable and I hope to see them next year at CPAC.

I'll have more about the adventures of Mark and myself at CPAC but right now I just returned home to Michigan from a 14 hour bus ride. More news articles and an editorial coming shortly. Stay tuned.

Cooper Union: Why it's Important

Let all who believe that "our fathers, who framed the Government under which we live, understood this question just as well, and even better, than we do now," speak as they spoke, and act as they acted upon it. This is all Republicans ask - all Republicans desire - in relation to slavery. As those fathers marked it, so let it be again marked, as an evil not to be extended, but to be tolerated and protected only because of and so far as its actual presence among us makes that toleration and protection a necessity. Let all the guarantees those fathers gave it, be, not grudgingly, but fully and fairly, maintained.
-Abraham Lincoln, Cooper Union Address 1860

In February of 1860 an attorney from Springfield Illinois, gave a most rousing speech. It was this speech that launched one mans journey toward history. This is a journey so great, so integral to the fingerprint of this nation that its telling has endured to this day, and will continue onward. It is the journey of Abraham Lincoln.

The speech he gave at Cooper Union was the speech that became the "spur in the horse," and kick started the path toward his presidential campaign. He did not declare such a path then. It was the contents of his speech and the adamant tenor in which he gave it, that caused its national reprinting and a call for his eventual nomination as the Republican candidate.

It was a speech of daring, of patriotism and of preservation. Lincoln dared to call forth the practice of slavery "evil." He dared to in turn reference those who practiced it to be associated with such an evil. He dared to halt this evil in refusing to expand slavery to future states. He was patriotic in that his arguments were based on the just interpretation of our fore fathers. His patriotism also lay in his regard for preservation; the preservation of the Union. It is in this speech that Lincoln called to stop the spread of slavery, yet he did not call the end of slavery directly. Why? In an attempt, in a diplomatic sense to preserve the nation. Slavery was a core of the South, and to remove it entirely, Lincoln knew, would result in a civil war.

Fate would have it that the civil war Lincoln sought to prevent would happen anyway. It was the South that would force his hand as President to use force to keep the nation together. Yet, why did Lincoln seek to preserve the nation be it either through his diplomacy via his speech or through means of force? Because he possessed a sense of duty. A duty to what he believed was to do the right and proper thing. The toleration and protection of Slavery in the South, yet at the same time preventing its evil from spreading was in Lincoln's sense of duty, the dirty hands that were required.

Once again Cooper Union comes into the spotlight. Tonight Newt Gingrich will - along with Mario Cuomo - discuss the future paths of our nation. But what is the cause of a debate in such a historic place? America's stability and existence today is endangered once more. The threat of collapse however, does not come from civil war but from dangers without. It is the forces that threaten us from foreign soil and the issues which are catalyst to such threats that are cause for a new debate of preservation.

Unlike the days of old however, the tone of the debate will differ. It is the evils of extremism that have replaced the evils of slavery. These evils however cannot be solely contained like that of slavery. Their spread must be stopped but they must also be stopped in whole. The means to this end have been enacted in part, by means of instilling a want for Democracy in a part of the world devoid of it. The other half lay in fighting extremism through means of force. It is through this the importance of domestic fortitude becomes apparent. The evils of war are just that; evils. Yet they are the dirty hands in which our generation faces. It is however in the knowing that the path to preservation of ourselves and others is the good and righteous thing, that I draw upon Abraham Lincoln's closing statement from his address, upon which he shouted:

"LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT."

-Matthew Brian Keller

Watch the Cooper Union Debate Webcast here 6:30pm - 8:30pm EST>>

McCain's Faltering Campaign

John McCain entered the 2008 Presidential campaign as a front-runner, or at least as candidate expected to do well right up until the primary season. However, McCain's campaign is suffering from a lack of interest and money. Despite his notoriety around the country and popularity with independents and some Democrats, McCain's campaign may be destined for a premature collapse.

McCain struggles to win over the GOP base. Despite his recent statements about overturning Roe v. Wade and his hawkish stance on Iraq and the War on Terror, he has significant liabilities on the domestic front which will likely prevent him from winning the nomination.

Dick Morris and Eileen McGann point out, "He voted against the Bush tax cuts, the only real success of the administration and the main accomplishment of the president's first term. On immigration, his bill, cosponsored by Ted Kennedy, permits illegal aliens to become citizens without returning to their native lands and seeking legal entry."(source)

Taxes and immigration. Domestically, it is likely that these will be the two most important issues in the GOP primary and will likely be critical issues in the Presidential election in 2008.

This is not to say that McCain's campaign is dead yet. He has been very supportive of the President's surge in Iraq. If the surge is successful, McCain may seem to be a wise old hawk who knew the right way to win before the President did. Despite McCain's public disdain for Don Rumsfeld, he has been shoulder to shoulder with the President on Iraq since day one. That might go a long way with GOP voters if McCain's campaign can spin it right.

Rudy Giuliani seems to be peaking while McCain is faltering. Should McCain drop out, as Tom Vilsack has done, the only real challenger to Giuliani would likely be Newt Gingrich.

Cross Posted at Newt Gingrich for President 2008

Vil...Sacked?

Was he for the race before he was against it? Or was it vice-versa? Tom Vilsack was amid headlines and back chatter alike today as talk circulated that he was pulling out of the 08' Presidential race. Hotline dropped the story in the blogosphere, like a quarterback dropping a football. Suddenly and with scrambling by those who sought to pick up the fumble, the frantic Left represented a mad dash for recovery; declaring that whoever Vilsack endorses will become their frontrunner.

A mad dash indeed. After all, Vilsack, who was the very first to jump the gun and announce a bid for the White House, may flip-flop on his endorsement like he did his candidacy. But by all means let us not get in the way of letting the Left do what the Left does best: make impassioned rash decisions. One of the big catalysts of this early and pre-emptive presidential race was Vilsack. Without him we wouldn't have John Edwards' Marcottegate, or his 28,000 sq ft. House Heating Bill To Nowhere. We wouldn't have Barack Obama's firm declaration from his years of experience that your son or daughter died for nothing or Hillary Clinton's own fumble to try to come off as a liberal by denouncing her hawkishness. She's a 2nd string QB you see, being in the shadow of her husband. Never having gotten the chance to play, she sided with the other team, our team. All of the sudden she changed her tune when she was put in to play the big game. Whoops. Fumble! So thank you Tom Vilsack. There may be a future for you yet as a monologue in a Bud Light Presents: Real Men of Genius ad.

This is why it is ridiculous to be in the race this early. Are there even platforms set up to run on? There haven't even been debates let alone platforms except in the House, where they voted 246 - 182 that they were French. Vilsack's announcement to cut and run the minute he heard there would be resistance in becoming Commander-in-Chief reinforces exactly what the Left is all about; the Party of Defeat. "“But I am Le Tired," are the words we hear every time the Left suggests defeat, retreat, or giving up. Apparently they have all been smoking like Barack Obama and lack the breathing ability to run in any regard for extended periods of time.

Newt Gingrich on the other hand, is not going to consider running until Fall of this year. The kind of conservative Republican ideals he holds himself to do not make him a mad rush football player going after a ball. Newt is the coach of the team. And while our team is on the playing field just like the Defeatist Left, ours is a reactionary measure. Newt being the coach he is, watches all this on the sidelines. If the ball is not recovered, he'll call a time-out and declare his power play. What was Tom Vilsack's power play? What is the power play of the Left? I'd tell you but I am Le Tired.

Draft Newt CPAC Gathering

What: Draft Newt is having a small get-together for interested highly committed individuals attending CPAC. Get a chance to meet the Draft Newt staff, who will listen to your thoughts and ideas about why you want Newt Gingrich for President. It will be at Petit Plats and is Dutch-treat.

When:
We have a private room at Peitit Plats for 5pm March 2nd.

Where to go:
Petit Plats
Right across from Marriott Wardman Park Hotel & Woodley Park-Zoo-Adams Morgan red line metro stop.
3 Minutes walking distance from Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Address for Petit Plats:
2653 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

On the web at:
http://www.petits-plats.com/

RSVP via our Facebook Events page>>

Bush Approval Rating Higher than Congress'

Despite that President Bush is being hammered by the media for his unpopularity over the Iraq War, it appears he's slightly more popular than Congress is to the American people. Real Clear Politics averages a number of polls which shows that Bush's approval stands on average at 35.8% while Congress has the approval of 34%. Bush's disapproval is 58.3% and Congress' disapproval is 52.3%. Even worse, 65% of those polled think the country is headed in the wrong direction. That does not bode well for either Bush or the Democrats.

The problem may be that no Congressional leaders or the President are providing a long term vision for the future of the country. The Democrats lack any coherent strategy for winning in Iraq, strengthening America domestically, or making the homeland safer. Bush is also viewed by many as a lame duck and has become somewhat paralyzed domestically because of the difficulties in stabilizing Iraq.

However, the American people seem to be widely against abandoning Iraq despite that they are unhappy with the current situation there. A vast majority of Americans are against cutting off funding for the troops and a majority believe that we can do a great deal to help stabilize Iraq before pulling out most of the troops. The American people want to win, but the same can't be said for the Democratic Party.

So where does that leave us? Enter Newt Gingrich: the man who resembles a walking idea machine could be positioning himself perfectly for 2008 by avoiding a premature declaration to run for President. Gingrich has warned that the American people may tire of the "already declared" candidates by the summer since so much media attention has already focused on who will replace Bush in 2008. After all, the 2008 election is almost 2 years away!

Despite his insistence that he will not decide until September of 2007, Gingrich is polling around 10% support of Republicans. Giuliani leads with approximately 35% followed by McCain with around 20%. Mitt Romney trails behind Gingrich with only 7.5% despite a media blitz and attempts to capture the conservative base.

One of Gingrich's big advantages is that he already has a quasi-Presidential campaign organization in place. He has developed a number of organizations since leaving the office of Speaker of the House that will make him a highly effective organizer and fundraiser. He is one of the most sought after public speakers in the country and has written 9 books since leaving elected office.

The Democrats shouldn't expect that their plans for a "slow bleed" to force an exit to Iraq will benefit them politically. They are already trailing the President in job approval ratings and have virtually no concrete ideas or solutions for America's future. Gingrich and other GOP candidates seem to, at the very least, have a plan to succeed in Iraq and are committed to ensure America's national security interests are protected at home and abroad.

Apart from Iraq, the Democrats are an "issue-less" party that would easily fragment on taxes, anti-terrorism strategies, and social policy.

Cross posted at: Newt Gingrich for President 2008 and The Strong Conservative

Michiganders further their support for Newt

New column from Newt on how to watch his debate with Mario Cuomo>>

Michigan's own Joan Jackson is bringing Newt's NY debate to her hometown. You too can bring Newt to your community.

You can also get involved with furthering Newt's ideology here at American Solutions>>

Newt polls second place in Alabama

Hat tip to Tim Aker, the gentleman across the pond, for his commentary found here:
http://thurrocktory.blogspot.com/

The key poll comes from Alabama, a state seriously contemplating moving its primary date up the list, where Newt Gingrich comes a very strong second, 7% above McCain and only 5% behind consistent front-runner Rudy Giuliani. At 26%, as far as I can recall, this shows the highest polling for Newt in all recent surveys.

The original Poll data can be found here:
American Research Group's Alabama Presidential Poll>>

Newt calls early entry into race "stupid"

Why Newt on principle, isn't entering the race yet.>>

"I think the current process of spending an entire year running in order to spend an entire year running in order to get sworn in January 2009 is stupid," Gingrich said at a National Press Club event with Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York.

Goose that Laid the Golden Egg Contest!

If only I had video skills.

Rasmussen: Hillary vs. Newt poll

Clinton 50% Gingrich 43%>>

Considering he's not even an official candidate yet......that's pretty great. Just think how high the numbers will shoot up once he announces. (Hat tip goes to MediaShuffle.blogspot.com)

Newt to be on CaptainQuartersblog.com Radio Thurs Feb 15 9pm

Newt Gingrich on CQ Radio announcement>>

The broadcast will be available via streaming. Thursday evening 9pm CT

Newt Kicks it up a notch: BAM!

Newt turns up the heat on the Dems, in a recipie for success!>>

Newt's new offensive on Democrats calls for the GOP to assert themselves!

Gingrich Warns of Nuclear Iran

Newt Gingrich spoke at the 7th Herzliya Conference in Israel last week and made some honest and blunt statements on the threat that Iran and nuclear terrorism poses to the United States and Israel. Gingrich emphasized that American and Israel, and more broadly the West, lack "the language and goals to address the new environment along with the speed and intensity to counter the contemporary threats".(source)

More specifically Newt states:
The US should have as an explicit goal, regime change in Iran, as its constitution makes them a revolutionary regime. In 2006 even the Department of State which seeks to deny the nature of reality, noted that Iran is a leading sponsor of terror. What I need is something that will be similar to Reagan's Replacement strategy in Iran. The current unrest in Iran will facilitate this.

The only thing Mr. Gingrich does not address is how we can go about to facilitate regime change in Iran. I would suggest a similar program that Reagan used through William Casey during the Cold War to undermine Soviet regimes and encourage dissent among those seeking liberty. This would call for a dramatically increased information system akin to Radio Free Europe, but aimed at Iran, Syria, and other hostile regimes.

Cross Posted at Newt Gingrich for President 20008

Newt Places Third in Iowa Poll

Newt Gingrich garnered 13% of respondents support in a recent Iowa poll. Former NYC mayor Rudy Guiliani led the field with 19% support. Senator John McCain placed second with 17% and Gingrich was third. Mitt Romney only mustered 5% support despite his formal announcement and his media blitz aimed at increasing his conservative base.

Twenty-two percent of respondents were unsure of who they supported leaving the field wide open for any of the contenders. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who said she is not interested in running, had almost twice Romney's support at 9%. Chuck Hagel and Tom Tancredo each had 2% support.

"On the Republican side, the two most talked-about candidates are doing well and will fight it out for the support of moderate Republicans and independents," Zogby said in a Wednesday release. "But our polling in this race also begs the question: Is Newt Gingrich the choice of the conservative wing?" (link)

Tancredo recently announced his exploratory committee for the GOP candidacy. He is a staunch anti-amnesty for illegals in the GOP, unlike Hagel who is often seen at press conferences surrounded by members of the "other" party denouncing the war and other conservative policies.

It is quite possible that Newt Gingrich could be the choice for "real" conservatives within the GOP. McCain has turned off significant numbers of Republicans after opposing Bush's tax cuts and pushing for campaign finance reform. Meanwhile, Giuliani is pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage, two issues that won't sit well with the majority of Republicans and significant numbers of independents.

Cross posted at Newt Gingrich For President 2008

Newt Teams up with Gordon

Newt teams up again - Rep. Bart Gordon is chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, for a Washington Times Op-Ed.


"Therefore, we are joining the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation, a coalition of business and academic organizations, in calling on the president to add Department of Defense research to his competitiveness initiative, make this a part of his State of the Union address later this month, and include it in his budget in February.

National security and economic competitiveness are linked in reality - they should be linked by national policy as well."

Two Heads are better than one

Another Reason Newt should be our President is –
He WORKS with others – for example – Newt and Hillary on Electronic Health Records.

Now he has teamed up with Giuliani for an Oped in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Getting Iraq to Work”.

What they say makes a LOT of sense.

Newt Blasts "Routine Cowardice" of Media and Left

Speaking in Baltimore, Maryland to a free market interest group, Newt Gingrich criticized the "routine cowardice" of the elite media and left wing politicians (Democrats and RINOs) who are so quick to want to retreat from Iraq and the wider War on Terror.(source)

Mr. Gingrich also warned of a long, difficult struggle with Islam that could last 30 to 70 years, just as the Cold War struggle against communism did. Gingrich also appealed to Americans to recall the example set by President Reagan who guided America out of the malaise of the Carter years.

"There are people out there who hate you so much that they are willing to kill their own baby, so long as they can kill you too," he said, citing the foiled plot in Britain where a Muslim couple planned to smuggle a bomb disguised as baby food onto a transatlantic airliner.

"On the domestic policy front Gingrich said it was necessary to "move conservatism to a new plateau" where ideas were translated into tangible policy solutions."(News Max)

Cross Posted on Newt Gingrich for President 2008 and The Strong Conservative

Video: Newt on Republican Dangers in 2007

We received an e-mail from a fellow supporter alerting us to a video of a recent speech by Speaker Gingrich posted on the Capitol Hill Broadcasting Network, which is like the YouTube for politics. In this 13-minute speech, Gingrich offers a history lesson about how the Democrats regained control of Congress back in 1948 after having lost it for just one term.

The Republican Party is at a crossroads in 2007: there are dangers and opportunities and whichever path we choose will determine whether we stay in the minority or, as Gingrich says, "recognize that we were defeated and the signals that it told."

Gingrich doesn't hold back on the issue of corruption within the GOP ranks. He says that corruption took two forms: one is that we had real crooks in our party. The other is a kind of conservative corruption that is a deliberate abuse of taxpayers money for the purposes of re-election.

He closes his speech by noting the threats that China, India and global jihadism pose to America and remarks that, "We can win the future, we are not going to inherit it." To inherit it, we need a generation of solutions.

It is a very good speech, very inspiring and I encourage everyone to watch it. Click on the link below:

Vegas Oddsmakers have NEWT to WIN

Newt HAS TO RUN -
Vega$ Oddsmakers have it - Because Newt Gingrich has high name recognition

Odds are 4-1 he will capture the Republican presidential nomination.
Mitt Romney's odds are 6-1 and
Sam Brownback's are 8-1.

Newt calls for the repeal of McCain-Feingold

Newt Gingrich has called for repealing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform laws because he believes they are a restriction on the First Amendment's guarantee to freedom of speech.

Newt Gingrich has called for eliminating the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform laws because he believes they are a restriction on the First Amendment's guarantee to freedom of speech.

"Just as tax lawyers always succeed in out-thinking the (Internal Revenue Service) because they stay after five and the IRS goes home, the private-sector lawyers will always out-think the (Federal Election Commission) because they stay after five and the FEC goes home," Gingrich told about 400 people at the Nackey Scripps Loeb First Amendment Awards Honors dinner."(source)

Instead, Gingrich believes contributions should be reported within 24 hours on the internet. McCain-Feingold restricted contributions to political parties from unions, corporations, and individuals. Nevertheless, organizations like PAC's (political action committees), CCE's(committees of continuing existence), and 527's have found loop holes to raise enormous amounts of money for political ends.

Article also appears at Newt Gingrich for President 2008

Newt On the Campaign Trail for the GOP

Newt Gingrich is showing he still knows how to campaign, and he's a highly requested GOP campaigner for candidates around the country. Newt will be in Indiana campaigning a number of Republicans. The seats in Indiana are seen as some of the most vulnerable in the country.(

Newt Gingrich is showing he still knows how to campaign, and he's a highly requested GOP campaigner for candidates around the country. Newt will be in Indiana campaigning a number of Republicans. The seats in Indiana are seen as some of the most vulnerable in the country.(source)

Newt was also in Ohio to stump for Ken Blackwell. Newt championed Blackwell's commitment to tax cuts and pointed out that Democrats are undoubtedly in favor of higher taxes. "Gingrich said Blackwell's Democratic opponent, Rep. Ted Strickland, has a record of voting for higher taxes. "The gap between Strickland's record of consistently voting for tax increases and against tax cuts and Ken Blackwell's consistent passion for lower taxes and more economic activity and more job creation, more opportunity, could hardly be wider," Gingrich told reporters at the Dayton Wright Brothers Airport in this Dayton suburb before accompanying Blackwell to a fundraiser."

Newt also noted that Republicans appear to be making a comeback in the wake of the Foley scandal. "If we get two more weeks of movement the way we've gotten over the last week, we'll keep the House by six to eight seats," he said.

Newt still will not confirm if he's running for President, he said he will decide next September on whether he will run in 2008.

Cross Posted at Newt Gingrich For President 2008

Can Newt Save the GOP?

Newt's Contract With America in 1994 paved the way for GOP domination that we have experienced for the last 12 years. In effect it also lead to lower taxes, smaller budgets, less waste, and more efficiency. Taking these benefits together also resulted in a better and stronger overall economy for America.

Gingrich's decision to step down as Speaker of the House still evokes anger among many who were close to him at the time:
Current research of that time mostly assures us that Gingrich's plunge in popularity was largely a result of his showdown with President Bill Clinton, which forced a "government shutdown," and, subsequently, Gingrich's alleged irritation at having to exit Air Force One from the rear of the plane when it returned from Israel.
Sure, the media transformed the shutdown into a caricature of Gingrich as being coldhearted. But it was Clinton's unwillingness to negotiate on tough budget constraints pushed by the Republicans that led to the short shutdown of government operations. http://www.newt.org/backpage.asp?art=3685

Gingrich's plan to cut capital gains taxes was a key factor in the 1990's economic boom that Clinton and other Dems so often take credit for according to Matt Towery of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Gingrich got a raw deal in many ways, although his personal failings outside of politics probably added to his political misfortunes. Nevertheless, Gingrich has reinvented himself and is widely recognized as one of the most (if not the most) politically savvy people in America. His historical knowledge, political instincts, and grasp of the current reality in conjunction with his ability to articulate what needs to be done could set him up as the GOP front runner in 2008.

I surely hope so.

Newt Comments on Clinton's Tirade

Commenting on Bill O'Reilly, Gingrich expressed surprised that President Clinton would get as agitated as he did in a recent interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.

Newt pointed out that Clinton purposely decided to underfund the CIA and noted he could cite case after case where the Clinton administration made it possible to succeed in the initial confrontations with Al Qaida in the 1990's.

Commenting on Bill O'Reilly, Gingrich expressed surprised that President Clinton would get as agitated as he did in a recent interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=A52Kuuecl28

Newt pointed out that Clinton purposely decided to underfund the CIA and noted he could cite case after case where the Clinton administration made it possible to succeed in the initial confrontations with Al Qaida in the 1990's.

The Clinton administration, in Gingrich's view, made the horrible mistake of treating terrorism as an issue of crime rather than as war.

Gingrich also suggested that Clinton had a strategic motive behind his supposed "rage" against Wallace, Fox, and the "neo-cons" trying to expose him as having not done enough to kill or capture Bin Laden.

http://gingrichforpres.blogspot.com/2006/09/newt-on-clintons-meltdown.html

Newt Defends Pope

Newt Gingrich defended the Pope yesterday saying, "I think what he said in his entire speech is that Islam has to come to grips with having a genuine dialogue of mutual respect," said Gingrich, a Georgia Republican when he was in the House. "Everything you've seen of the viciousness and the evil that has been said since then by fanatics reinforces the pope's speech."

Newt Gingrich defended the Pope yesterday saying, "I think what he said in his entire speech is that Islam has to come to grips with having a genuine dialogue of mutual respect," said Gingrich, a Georgia Republican when he was in the House. "Everything you've seen of the viciousness and the evil that has been said since then by fanatics reinforces the pope's speech."(source)

In a rare point of agreement, Hillary Clinton also defended the Pope's words. Both Clinton and Gingrich were appearing at an event for the American Cancer Society. Newt pointed out the illogical acts of Islamic extremists who apparently murdered a nun in Somalia.

"I think it's amazing that a 65-year-old nun who's serving as a nurse in Somalia can be killed over words, and people aren't outraged by the vicious barbarians that killed her," Gingrich said.

Newt Gingrich for President 2008

RedState Radio Interviews Speaker Gingrich

From Redstate.org

"As we head to September 11th, 2006, it is appropriate to ask if we are safer than we were on September 10, 2001. Newt Gingrich tells RedState that we are not safer. He also discusses his plan for Republicans to keep their majority, which includes 11 ways to show we're not Nancy Pelosi."

Listen to the broadcast here OR click the link above to read the full RedState article and discussion and navigate to the interview from there.

Gingrich Leads the Fight Against House Dems in 06

From AL-AP:

"Ex-U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday that the thought of California Rep. Nancy Pelosi becoming the next leader of the House and being third in line to the presidency is frightening.

On Wednesday, Gingrich was at a fundraiser for Ralph Norman, the White House's chosen opponent for U.S. Rep. John Spratt, the 5th District Democrat who is Pelosi's assistant minority leader."

Redstate commentary.

Blog Strawpoll: Gingrich finishes strong!

In a new poll of 8697 bloggers, Fmr. Speaker Newt Gingrich finished a strong second to Fmr. New York City Mayor, Rudy Guiliani. The results were as follows:

Giuliani 24.6%
Gingrich 21.1%
Romney 2.8%
Allen 11.5%
Tancredo 6.7%
McCain 6.4%
Hagel 2.8%
Brownback 2.5%
Huckabee 1.5%
Frist 1.1%
Pataki 0.3%

You may still vote in the poll here:

Kouri: Newt Gingrich, The De Facto Leader of the GOP

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is arguably the true leader of the GOP at a time when the Republican control of the US Senate and House of Representatives is in jeopardy.

While the Republicans who are leaders and officeholders appear to be wandering about like chickens without heads, Gingrich brings a clear, concise message wherever he goes. With the November election cycle in full swing, He's traveling from city to city helping several Republican lawmakers with their campaigns.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Did Newt Really Say Pull out of Iraq?

Not really. Here's a link to the video and transcript. See for yourself.

Newt on Immigration: Senate Immigration Bill a Cave-In

You know, he's right. The Senate legislation will establish amnesty for those who successfully broke the law long enough, would guarantee an industry of document forgery due to the explosive demand and assigns responsibility to a Federal bureaucracy no one believes it could meet. Learn more here.

Newt in Ninety Seconds

Newt recently launched a daily radio actuality. Winning the Future with Newt Gingrich, is a new series of radio features on that will be heard on 350 radio stations throughout the country.

Nothing will be off-limits, from breaking the bureaucratic grip on our health care system, to resisting the effort to write God out of American history to defending America in the long war against Islamic terrorism. And, he’ll make his points in just 90 seconds.

Each day's edition of Winning the Future with Newt Gingrich can be heard at www.newt.org.  Click here for an updated list of episodes or click here to find out where Winning the Future with Newt Gingrich can be heard near you.

If you have an organization or know of an organization that would benefit from the national radio exposure gained by partnering with Winning the Future with Newt Gingrich, please contact Mary Lou Davidson (941-379-1440) at Matrix Media to find out more about how you can make a difference through this limited opportunity.

Newt to Manufacturers: Take Lawyers & Bureaucrats Out of the Process

An article in the York Dispatch recaps a recent events where Newt was at where he told manufacturers that ifAmericans want to compete with the burgeoning economies of China and India, they'll have to take lawyers and bureaucrats out of the lawmaking process. More information here.

Newt to GOP: Get your Act Together

An article in the Lancaster New Era (Pa.) interviews Newt where he says the next 90 days as critical to the future of the Republican Party; a time to "get their act together" or risk losing control of Congress in the November mid-term elections. More info here.

Newt's back in Iowa!

We hear that Newt will again be in Iowa this Friday, April 28, to address the Iowa State globalization course at
Iowa State University. More information here.